You respond to a domestic disturbance in a residential neighborhood and to your surprise you’re confronted by a middle-aged man standing in the driveway, pointing a shotgun at your marked unit.
You bail out to cover and draw down on him with your .45 H&K pistol. Repeatedly you command him to lower the shotgun. He doesn’t.
Your life at risk, you squeeze your trigger. The hammer drops — but your weapon does not fire.
Now what?
When that scenario played out in real life in Virginia a while ago, the threat never escalated further because the suspect at the pivotal moment belatedly decided to comply and peacefully laid down his weapon. Later, the involved officer’s agency said a department armorer had “failed to replace the handgun’s firing pin spring during routine maintenance.”
That’s a freak happenstance — other causes of stoppages arise more frequently, even though, in the opinion of well-known trainer John Farnam, “today’s law enforcement pistols tend to be the most reliable guns ever made.”
In training, Farnam sees officers unexpectedly unable to fire their semi-autos because of an empty chamber, a dud round, a slide out of battery (not completely forward), a manual safety that’s “on,” a decocking lever that’s inadvertently depressed...
In law enforcement, as Farnam reminds us, “There are things you can’t imagine but nothing that cannot happen.”
If a stoppage suddenly befalls you in a critical confrontation like the Virginia standoff, are you well-practiced in how to clear the problem and get your gun running again?
And if your clearing procedure fails, do you have the option of a backup gun?
“Now and then, an officer will ask why stoppage-reduction drills and transition-to-second-gun drills are necessary,” Farnam says. “But you need those procedures down pat. The possibility of a stoppage — not in the relative calm of the range but in the desperate fury of a gunfight — is easy to brush off... until it happens to you.”
He acknowledges that backup guns are disfavored by some administrators because of their “throw-down gun” connotation. But he considers the matter an officer-safety issue.
“No patrol officer should be out there without a second gun,” he told PoliceOne. “If you have one gun that’s not working, it’s unlikely you’ll have two that don’t work.”
The serial number of the backup should be recorded, to lessen the concern of it becoming a plant, Farnam suggests. And you should be required to qualify with the spare, the same as with your primary sidearm.
As for where to carry a backup, “a hide-out holster that attaches to your vest is a popular option,” Farnam says. “In any case, it should be carried concealed. Anything offenders can see, they can plan around.”
John Farnam, president of Defense Training International, can be reached at (970) 482-2520 or via email at: jsFarnam@aol.com.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Staying Hydrated in every season
Falling behind with your drinking?
We’re talking water here. And it’s an officer safety issue.
Just because we’ve traversed the ‘dog days of summer’ and are rapidly approaching the beginning of autumn doesn’t mean that the dangers of dehydration have passed. Cooler temperatures can lull you into a false sense that you’re not prone to dehydration dangers which were so obvious in July and August.
New research findings from the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory confirm that even mild dehydration can have a significant impact on your vigilance, concentration, working memory, tension and anxiety levels, and degree of fatigue—all important elements in staying alert for threat cues and being capable of fast reactions on the street.
Although both sexes are affected, researchers report that females may be even more susceptible to the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function. And the adverse effects can occur whether you’re sitting at a computer or involved in heavy physical exertion. It’s all a matter of sufficient fluid intake.
UConn researchers led by international hydration expert Dr. Lawrence Armstrong tested two groups of young, healthy, and active volunteers: 25 women with an average age of 23 and 26 men averaging 20 years old. After walking treadmills in a warm room to induce water loss, the subjects were put through a series of cognitive tests measured by the study team. Outcomes were later compared to results obtained when the same participants remained well-hydrated via mineral water during their exercising.
The comparisons showed that even mild dehydration—as little as 1.5 percent loss in the body’s normal water volume, about the amount that may make you feel thirsty—had a significant impact on energy level and the ability to think clearly.
Specifically, the females especially tended to experience fatigue, confusion, and difficulty concentrating, while among the males “difficulty with mental tasks, particularly in the areas of vigilance and working memory,” was noted, along with increased fatigue, tension, and anxiety.
“Adverse changes in mood and symptoms were substantially greater in females than in males, both at rest and during exercise,” the researchers stated, although they could not explain why. In any case, performance notably suffered from dehydration in both genders.
Other university studies have found that dehydration also affects muscle strength, by as much as 10 percent to 20 percent. In addition, some researchers say that chronic improper hydration may also be related to depression.
You may think about drinking water only when you’re thirsty, but “our thirst sensation doesn’t really appear until we are already one or two percent dehydrated—too late,” Armstrong explains. “By then dehydration is already starting to impact how our mind and body perform.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. You can usually reverse [or prevent] mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids.”
Daily Health News points out that “it’s easy to know when you’re really dehydrated—your mouth is parched, you’re likely overheated, and all you can think about is chugging a giant glass of ice-cold water. But knowing when you’re mildly dehydrated—far more common—is much harder, because the signs aren’t always as apparent.”
To stay properly hydrated, even if you’re largely sedentary, Armstrong recommends that you regularly drink about 2 liters of water—approximately eight 8-ounce glasses—during a normal day, “and not just during exercise, extreme heat, or exertion.”
With greater exposure to dehydrating circumstances, drink more and more often.
He says you can check your hydration status by monitoring the color of your urine. If you’re properly hydrated, it should be a “very pale yellow.” Dark yellow or tan suggests dehydration.
In the past, experts have cautioned that caffeinated drinks can contribute to dehydration. But researchers at UConn and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have concluded that water, caffeinated, and non-caffeinated drinks can all provide similar levels of hydration.
However, alcohol does tend to dehydrate the body because of its diuretic effects. Research has shown that the amount of water lost in urination is in direct correlation to the percentage of alcohol contained in what you drink. In short, the higher the alcohol content, the less hydration you’ll be able to maintain.
We’re talking water here. And it’s an officer safety issue.
Just because we’ve traversed the ‘dog days of summer’ and are rapidly approaching the beginning of autumn doesn’t mean that the dangers of dehydration have passed. Cooler temperatures can lull you into a false sense that you’re not prone to dehydration dangers which were so obvious in July and August.
New research findings from the University of Connecticut’s Human Performance Laboratory confirm that even mild dehydration can have a significant impact on your vigilance, concentration, working memory, tension and anxiety levels, and degree of fatigue—all important elements in staying alert for threat cues and being capable of fast reactions on the street.
Although both sexes are affected, researchers report that females may be even more susceptible to the loss of water and salts essential for normal body function. And the adverse effects can occur whether you’re sitting at a computer or involved in heavy physical exertion. It’s all a matter of sufficient fluid intake.
UConn researchers led by international hydration expert Dr. Lawrence Armstrong tested two groups of young, healthy, and active volunteers: 25 women with an average age of 23 and 26 men averaging 20 years old. After walking treadmills in a warm room to induce water loss, the subjects were put through a series of cognitive tests measured by the study team. Outcomes were later compared to results obtained when the same participants remained well-hydrated via mineral water during their exercising.
The comparisons showed that even mild dehydration—as little as 1.5 percent loss in the body’s normal water volume, about the amount that may make you feel thirsty—had a significant impact on energy level and the ability to think clearly.
Specifically, the females especially tended to experience fatigue, confusion, and difficulty concentrating, while among the males “difficulty with mental tasks, particularly in the areas of vigilance and working memory,” was noted, along with increased fatigue, tension, and anxiety.
“Adverse changes in mood and symptoms were substantially greater in females than in males, both at rest and during exercise,” the researchers stated, although they could not explain why. In any case, performance notably suffered from dehydration in both genders.
Other university studies have found that dehydration also affects muscle strength, by as much as 10 percent to 20 percent. In addition, some researchers say that chronic improper hydration may also be related to depression.
You may think about drinking water only when you’re thirsty, but “our thirst sensation doesn’t really appear until we are already one or two percent dehydrated—too late,” Armstrong explains. “By then dehydration is already starting to impact how our mind and body perform.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. You can usually reverse [or prevent] mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids.”
Daily Health News points out that “it’s easy to know when you’re really dehydrated—your mouth is parched, you’re likely overheated, and all you can think about is chugging a giant glass of ice-cold water. But knowing when you’re mildly dehydrated—far more common—is much harder, because the signs aren’t always as apparent.”
To stay properly hydrated, even if you’re largely sedentary, Armstrong recommends that you regularly drink about 2 liters of water—approximately eight 8-ounce glasses—during a normal day, “and not just during exercise, extreme heat, or exertion.”
With greater exposure to dehydrating circumstances, drink more and more often.
He says you can check your hydration status by monitoring the color of your urine. If you’re properly hydrated, it should be a “very pale yellow.” Dark yellow or tan suggests dehydration.
In the past, experts have cautioned that caffeinated drinks can contribute to dehydration. But researchers at UConn and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have concluded that water, caffeinated, and non-caffeinated drinks can all provide similar levels of hydration.
However, alcohol does tend to dehydrate the body because of its diuretic effects. Research has shown that the amount of water lost in urination is in direct correlation to the percentage of alcohol contained in what you drink. In short, the higher the alcohol content, the less hydration you’ll be able to maintain.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
4 keys to searching for suspects
Manning a line of police officers and volunteers sweeping through a field as a helicopter hovered low overhead we were relieved to hear that the suicidal female had been found, alive, beneath the stairwell in her basement closet. A happy ending but for the tremendous drain on resources that could have been prevented with a more thorough house search.
A missing persons report can spread panic among family and friends whether that person is a suicidal adult or a child that seems to have wandered off. While stranger abductions are nightmarish and generate zealous press coverage, the actual occurrence is exceptionally rare in the context of all missing person reports or other crimes against children and at-risk adults.
This worst-case scenario thinking can result in the missaplication of resources in critical cases. While not disregarding the possibility of abduction, many missing persons cases are resolved by the individual being located in their own homes or very near. First responding officers are tempted to work a spiral search that takes them farther and farther from the home. Volunteers and family members often launch their own efforts, uncoordinated with the police response.
While command posts, perimeters, and alerts are being used, don't forget the place where the person was last seen or normally stays.
Some Keys
1.) Have an officer or victim advocate stay with the closest relative to keep them calm and on site for further information. That person will have to be convinced that they are of more value there than running around in a panic. 2.) Try to get a single point of contact for all volunteers and family so they can be briefed not to pick up anything that might be of evidentiary value, to report frequently back to the contact point, and to have a list of names and cell numbers of volunteers. It's not a bad idea to get an ID and photo of all the volunteers since if there is foul play your suspect may be "helping" in the search. Be wary for the person who wants to help but doesn't want a team or partner. Officers should identify anyone claiming to be searching who hasn't checked in with everybody else. 3.) Keep at least one officer or team searching in and around the house and immediate area. Look again at places that have already been searched. Don't think of looking for a person, think of looking for a gallon milk jug because that's how small a sick or frightened person can get. Remember that small children can be frightened by all the attention and try to hide or change hiding places while you're calling for them! 4.) Look everywhere. Look in kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, under buckets, in closets, between mattresses, under laundry, in the dog house, under furniture... then look AGAIN!
A missing persons report can spread panic among family and friends whether that person is a suicidal adult or a child that seems to have wandered off. While stranger abductions are nightmarish and generate zealous press coverage, the actual occurrence is exceptionally rare in the context of all missing person reports or other crimes against children and at-risk adults.
This worst-case scenario thinking can result in the missaplication of resources in critical cases. While not disregarding the possibility of abduction, many missing persons cases are resolved by the individual being located in their own homes or very near. First responding officers are tempted to work a spiral search that takes them farther and farther from the home. Volunteers and family members often launch their own efforts, uncoordinated with the police response.
While command posts, perimeters, and alerts are being used, don't forget the place where the person was last seen or normally stays.
Some Keys
1.) Have an officer or victim advocate stay with the closest relative to keep them calm and on site for further information. That person will have to be convinced that they are of more value there than running around in a panic. 2.) Try to get a single point of contact for all volunteers and family so they can be briefed not to pick up anything that might be of evidentiary value, to report frequently back to the contact point, and to have a list of names and cell numbers of volunteers. It's not a bad idea to get an ID and photo of all the volunteers since if there is foul play your suspect may be "helping" in the search. Be wary for the person who wants to help but doesn't want a team or partner. Officers should identify anyone claiming to be searching who hasn't checked in with everybody else. 3.) Keep at least one officer or team searching in and around the house and immediate area. Look again at places that have already been searched. Don't think of looking for a person, think of looking for a gallon milk jug because that's how small a sick or frightened person can get. Remember that small children can be frightened by all the attention and try to hide or change hiding places while you're calling for them! 4.) Look everywhere. Look in kitchen cabinets, refrigerators, under buckets, in closets, between mattresses, under laundry, in the dog house, under furniture... then look AGAIN!
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